King Charles’ unexpected call ahead of Aussie tour

King Charles has made a significant personal decision ahead of his high-profile visit to Australia next week.

IN LONDON

King Charles will “pause” his regular cancer treatments during his high-profile royal tour of Australia and Samoa, it’s been revealed.

The 75-year-old and his wife, Queen Camilla, are due to arrive Down Under on October 18, taking part in a number of engagements in Sydney and Canberra, before heading to Samoa on a State Visit to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The King has been undergoing weekly treatment since his diagnosis with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year, but the Daily Mail reports that doctors have granted permission for him to stretch that out to 11 days for the duration of his trip.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit Australia next week. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

According to the publication, the King will “continue with his ongoing cancer treatment right up until he flies” and will “pick up” his treatment “as soon as he returns to the UK”.

However, he will be accompanied on the royal tour by a travelling doctor, which is standard practice for the head of state.

Following a brief rest from public duties after news of his diagnosis, the King has maintained a steady, but modified, schedule of activities.

In keeping with that, original plans for a longer tour which would have included a visit to New Zealand, were shaved down. A full rest day, scheduled for the day after the couple land, has also been built into the itinerary in order to be mindful of his health.

Last week, the King hosted a pre-tour reception at St James’s Palace to celebrate the Commonwealth diaspora ahead of this year’s CHOGM.

The King hosted a pre-CHOGM event in London last week. Picture: Adrian Dennis - WPA Pool/Getty Images

However, his workload has been kept “deliberately light” in the run up to the royal tour.

“The fortnight in the run up to the royal tour has been kept deliberately light for His Majesty,” a source told the Mail.

“He will still be undertaking meetings, doing his paperwork and still come down for treatment.

“Australia is a big deal and he wants to be fighting fit.

“As soon as he returns he is also straight into a really intense program all the way up to Christmas.

“The late Queen would stay in Scotland into October and he’s decided to do the same. It’s a place of peace for him and that’s more imperative than usual this year because of what he has coming up.

“For a workaholic [like him] it’s the chance to have a small breather.”

Originally published as King Charles’ unexpected call ahead of Aussie tour